'Mesopotamia. Commission' [‎84r] (170/256)

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No. 193.
Generol Xixon to Secretory of State for Indio, doted 10 /h October 19ir>.
(Telegraphic.)
Tigris line. Townshend reports on 10th that enemy lias pushed forward a detachment,
estimated at 1,500 men, about seven miles in advance of his position at Zeur. He further
reports that hostile force of cavalry and infantry approached Aziziyah from north vid
Nahrwan dry canal morning of 10th. (xeneral Roberts with three squadrons and half No. d
Battery drove them off with loss of about 20 killed and wounded. Our losses were 1 Dafadar A Non-Commissioned Officer in the Indian Cavalry.
killed,* 4 Sowars wounded, and 1 missing. Captain Hill, 16th Cavalry, behaved with
conspicuous gallantry.
No. 194.
General Xixon to Secretary of State for India, doted I'lth October 1915.
(Telegraphic.) , , „ , • i e r, irw-i
Townshend reports that Turkish detachment pushed forward in advance of /eur on 10 th,
was withdrawn back to that place at 2 p.m. 11th. Hoghton, with 17th Brigade, arrived at
Aziziyah 11th. Column consisting of one troop 33rd Cavalry, half “ Battery, and one
double company 48th Pioneers, left Kut-al-Amara 12th, due Azizyah 14th. In answer to
<mery Eo-ynt wires 7th “continual movement of enemy troops from Syria and Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. to
Constantinople, and no signs of anything important going to Mesopotamia Reliable
information received here indicates no garrison of any importance m Baghdad, 5th October.
No. 195.
Secretary of State for Indio to Viceroy, doted lith October 1915.
^ Private” A question has been raised as to sufficiency of reinforcements asked foi by
Nixon or even of two divisions to hold Baghdad against forces which Turks might eventually
brin- a-ainst him. This is now being considered by General Staff, and Cabinet hope to get
their report in three days. Are chances of eventual successful advance prejudiced by delay .
We continue to attach greatest importance to capture of Baghdad if we can hold it securely.
No. 196.
Secretary of State for India to Viceroy, dated loth October 1915.
(Te pri™t! UC 'ln continuation of my private telegram of Uth instant. War Office contemplate
transfer of the two Indian Infantry Divisions from France to Egypt with the intention of
nlacinv them at your disposal for Mesopotamia if report of General Staff ,s favourable to
-m of Bao-hdad But owing to uncertainty of position m the near East and possi de
imed^of transimrf foif^thiwpurposes they cannot'gnjantee diMe of departure. Under these
circumstances they do not consider that it would be safe for Nixon to advance on Baghda
before these troops have actually started from Egypt unless you can undertake to supply nn
temporarily with a division from India in the event of these reinforcements being unavoidably
delayed. I request early reply as to possibility of your undertaking this liability.
No. 197.
Viceroy to Secretary of State for India, dated loth October 191o.
privu*
D " lGS i Kv wdfnVtTr^dice'the'chmmSs of eventual successful advance, though that success
8 w?U it cos% IT* to longer time at enemy’s disposal for completmn of defences.
No. 198.
His Majesty's Minister Tehran to Sir E. Grey, dated loth October 1915.
(Telegraphic.) o-reat activity. Great quantities of arms
For last few days Germans iav ^ e ^ beint , Sported and the number of German agents
and ammunition and, it is said, fio . u ° es are of course aio t to be obtained, but my
has been increased considei a } • ‘ . T i numbers are constantly arriving, and, I
reports show that Germans 1I '. 06^ 250 Austrians, mostly prisoners of
think, in all Persia there cannot be less Umn W ren ’ le i ndians , &0 ., w i t h 8,000 rifles,
war escaped from I ranscaspia, am I P j , j ld elsewhere, in Persia, with
7 or 8 machine guns, bombs, Ac. ^ 0 'J te “P t ’?‘^ cted and wit |, Yellow Press and all worst
emm? fXn^hS!
relativeTy easy 1 of —cation with
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